Get a Kick Out of These

Rob Thomason, a researcher on The Post's Foreign Desk and a tai chi enthusiast, agreed to try out a couple of martial-arts-related DVDs: "Qi Gong: Fire & Water" with Matthew Cohen, and "The Kung Fu Kickboxing Workout" with Tiffany and Max Chen, both published by Acacia.

The programs Qi gong is a Chinese discipline that connects movement and breathing, similar to tai chi. The "fire" and "water" refer to different types of movements, some more vigorous and some more flowing. The kickboxing workout is as it sounds: basic kicks and punches designed for an aerobic workout.

Duration The program in each DVD is about an hour.

Intensity Rob says that "for the most part" qi gong "does not require great exertion" as performed on the DVD -- though, as in yoga, the poses and movements become more challenging if held for a long time. He said the DVD would likely be "welcome to those seeking . . . a healthy, physically low-key workout," with plenty of twists and moves to help the back. The kickboxing DVD is "a fine aerobic workout and a very simple introduction to kickboxing" -- enough to work up a sweat in your basement, though Rob suggests a real instructor for those who want to learn kickboxing for self-defense or as a sport.

Fun factor As someone who practices tai chi, Rob said he found the qi gong video an enjoyable variant. He said Cohen weaves together "the calisthenics, the physiology and the metaphysical concepts," to a background of beautiful music that can be played without Cohen's narration. The kickboxing presentation was serviceable, he said, and the music a "generic up-tempo background track."